Exit path connector for catheter assembly

Abstract

A catheter assembly includes an outer shaft having an outer shaft body forming an outer shaft bore that receives an inner shaft. The outer shaft has a wire transition section. The catheter assembly includes an exit path connector coupled to the outer shaft body at the wire transition section. The exit path connector has a rigid body section separate and discrete from the outer shaft body and coupled to the outer shaft body. The body section defines an exit path connector bore that receives the inner shaft. The body section has a side exit port at a side of the body section being open to the exit path connector bore. The catheter assembly includes a catheter wire passing through the side exit port from an interior to an exterior of the cable exit port.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A catheter assembly comprising:
 an inner shaft extending between a proximal end and a distal end; 
 an outer shaft having an outer shaft body forming an outer shaft bore, the outer shaft bore receiving the inner shaft, the outer shaft extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the outer shaft having a wire transition section proximate to the proximal end, the outer shaft being discontinuous at the wire transition section, the wire transition section including a forward section and a rearward section; 
 an exit path connector coupled to the outer shaft body at the wire transition section, the exit path connector being positioned between and connecting the forward section and the rearward section, the exit path connector having a rigid body section separate and discrete from the outer shaft body and coupled to the outer shaft body, the body section defining an exit path connector bore that receives the inner shaft, the body section having a side exit port at a side of the body section, the side exit port being open to the exit path connector bore; and, 
 a catheter wire extending between the distal end and the proximal end of the outer shaft, the catheter wire passing through the side exit port from an interior of the exit path connector to an exterior of the exit path connector, the catheter wire extending within the outer shaft bore from the exit path connector to the distal end of the outer shaft. 
 
     
     
       2. The catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the body section of the exit path connector is manufactured from a different material than a material of the outer shaft body. 
     
     
       3. The catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the outer shaft includes an inner layer defining the outer shaft bore, the exit path connector being coupled to the inner layer at a seam, the outer shaft including an outer layer on the inner layer and the exit path connector at the seam. 
     
     
       4. The catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the outer shaft includes a hypotube defining the outer shaft bore, the exit path connector being coupled to the hypotube at a seam, the outer shaft including a polymer jacket formed in situ around the hypotube and the exit path connector at the seam. 
     
     
       5. The catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the exit path connector includes a front joining section extending forward of the body section, the front joining section being coupled to the outer shaft body. 
     
     
       6. The catheter assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the exit path connector includes a rear joining section extending rearward of the body section, the rear j oining section being coupled to the outer shaft body. 
     
     
       7. The catheter assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the front joining section includes lap joints coupled to the outer shaft. 
     
     
       8. The catheter assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the outer shaft includes an inner layer defining the outer shaft bore and an outer layer surrounding an exterior of the inner layer, the front joining section coupled to the inner layer at a seam, the outer layer being seamlessly coupled to the inner layer and the front joining section to cover the seam between the front joining section and the inner layer. 
     
     
       9. The catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the body section includes an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining the exit path connector bore, the side exit port extending between the inner surface and the outer surface at an angle transverse to a bore axis of the exit path connector bore. 
     
     
       10. The catheter assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a handle coupled to the outer shaft at the proximal end, the handle having a handle bore that receives the proximal end of the outer shaft and the exit path connector, the catheter wire exiting the side exit port into the handle bore. 
     
     
       11. The catheter assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the exit path connector includes a handle mount, the handle coupled to the handle mount of the exit path connector. 
     
     
       12. The catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the body section of the exit path connector is stainless steel. 
     
     
       13. The catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the body section of the exit path connector is a 3D printed body section. 
     
     
       14. The catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the exit path connector extends between a front and a rear, the side exit port being positioned a predetermined distance from the front, the side exit port extending at a predetermined angle relative to a bore axis of the exit path connector bore. 
     
     
       15. The catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the body section of the exit path connector includes a front hub and a rear hub, the front hub having a larger diameter than the rear hub, a shoulder formed between the front hub and the rear hub, the side exit port passing through the shoulder. 
     
     
       16. The catheter assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the front hub is thicker than the rear hub. 
     
     
       17. The catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the side exit port is a first side exit port, the exit path connector including a second side exit port receiving a second catheter wire. 
     
     
       18. The catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the catheter wire is a pull wire used to actuate at least one of the distal end of the inner shaft or the distal end of the outer shaft. 
     
     
       19. The catheter assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a wire lumen receiving the catheter wire, the wire lumen passing through the side exit port. 
     
     
       20. A catheter assembly comprising:
 an inner shaft extending between a proximal end and a distal end; 
 an outer shaft having an outer shaft body forming an outer shaft bore, the outer shaft bore receiving the inner shaft, the outer shaft extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the outer shaft having a wire transition section proximate to the proximal end, the outer shaft being discontinuous at the wire transition section, the wire transition section including a forward section and a rearward section; 
 an exit path connector coupled to the outer shaft body at the wire transition section, the exit path connector being positioned between and connecting the forward section and the rearward section, the exit path connector having a front joining section, a rear joining section, and a body section between the front joining section and the rear joining section, the exit path connector is separate and discrete from the outer shaft body, the front joining section being coupled to the outer shaft body, the rear joining section being coupled to the outer shaft body, the body section having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining an exit path connector bore extending along a bore axis, the exit path connector bore receiving the inner shaft, the body section having a side exit port at a side of the body section, the side exit port extending between the inner surface and the outer surface at an angle transverse to the bore axis; and 
 a catheter wire extending between the distal end and the proximal end of the outer shaft, the catheter wire passing through the side exit port, the catheter wire passing along the inner surface of the body section forward of the side exit port, the catheter wire passing along the outer surface of the body section rearward of the side exit port, the catheter wire extending within the outer shaft bore from the exit path connector to the distal end of the outer shaft. 
 
     
     
       21. The catheter assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the outer shaft includes a hypotube defining the outer shaft bore, the exit path connector being coupled to the hypotube at a seam, the outer shaft including a polymer jacket formed in situ around the hypotube and the exit path connector at the seam. 
     
     
       22. The catheter assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the body section of the exit path connector includes a front hub and a rear hub, the front hub having a larger diameter than the rear hub, a shoulder formed between the front hub and the rear hub, the side exit port passing through the shoulder. 
     
     
       23. A catheter assembly comprising:
 an inner shaft extending between a proximal end and a distal end; 
 an outer shaft having an outer shaft body forming an outer shaft bore, the outer shaft bore receiving the inner shaft, the outer shaft extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the outer shaft having a wire transition section proximate to the proximal end; 
 an exit path connector coupled to the outer shaft body at the wire transition section, the exit path connector having a rigid body section separate and discrete from the outer shaft body and coupled to the outer shaft body, the body section defining an exit path connector bore that receives the inner shaft, the body section having a side exit port at a side of the body section, the side exit port being open to the exit path connector bore, the body section including a front hub and a rear hub, the front hub having a larger diameter than the rear hub, a shoulder formed between the front hub and the rear hub, the side exit port passing through the shoulder; and 
 a catheter wire extending between the distal end and the proximal end of the outer shaft, the catheter wire passing through the side exit port from an interior of the exit path connector to an exterior of the cable exit port, the catheter wire extending within the outer shaft bore from the exit path connector to the distal end of the outer shaft. 
 
     
     
       24. The catheter assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the outer shaft is discontinuous at the wire transition section, the wire transition section including a forward section and a rearward section, the exit path connector being positioned between and connecting the forward section and the rearward section.